Isometric contraction exercise apparatus having a rotatable upper member for adjusting the length of the conecting cords



Jan. 14, 1964 Filed Dec. 21, 1961 L. M. VARGO ISGMETRIC CONTRACTION EXERCISE APPARATUS HAVING A ROTATABLE UPPER MEMBER FOR ADJUSTING THE LENGTH OF THE CONNECTING CORDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 14, 1964 L. M. VARGO 3,117,781

ISO RIC CONTRACTION EXERCISE APPARATUS HAVING ROTATABLE u R MEMBER FOR ADJUSTING THE LENG'I'i-I THE coNNEcTING CORDS Filed Dec. 21, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent ISOMETRIC CONTRACTION EXERCISE APPARA- TUS HAVING A ROTATABLE UPPER MEMBER FOR ADJUSTING THE LENGTH OF THE CON- NECTING CORDS Louis M. Vargo, 3147 Voss Drive, Baton Rouge, La.

Filed Dec. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 161,093 6 Claims. (Cl. 272-79) This invention relates to exercising apparatus and more particularly to such apparatus for accomplishing exercises of the type known as isometric contraction.

A recent development in physical fitness exercising involves the concept of application of force by the subject to an immovable object to accomplish maximum sustained muscle contraction, lasting from six to twelve seconds per exercise for various exercises. Such a system of exercises has been referred to as the isometric contraction system. Individual exercises primarily involve such physical exertion as pushing with the hands or body against an immovable object, or pulling an immovable object by the hands. Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of exercising apparatus for carrying out various exercises according to the isometric contraction system, the apparatus being quickly and easily adjusted for carrying out different types of exercises within the isometric contraction concept, including pushing and pulling exercises, and for carrying out these exercises with different body positions, as, for example, standing and bent-knee positions; and the provision of apparatus such as described which is economical to manufacture, easy to use, and portable so that it may be readily carried from place to place. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a perspective of an exercising apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing the bottom of the base or platform of the exerciser;

FIG. 3 is a detail section; and

FIGS. 48 are perspectives showing various types of exercises carried out using the exercising apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, and showing how the apparatus is adjusted for such difierent exercises.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawll'lgS.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, an exercising apparatus of this invention is shown to comprise a base or platform 1 adapted to rest on the floor and on which the user may take a position for exercising. As shown, this base or platform is rectangular (although this is not essential), and it may consist of a sheet of plywood covered on top with a suitable cushioning material, such as carpeting material, as indicated at 3. Feet 5 are provided at the four corners of the base. The base 1 has a pair of holes 7 therein at opposite sides thereof. These holes are spaced apart a suflicient distance for the user to take a position between them.

At 9 is indicated a bar having a length somewhat greater than the width of the base. This bar may consist of a length of pipe, for example, and is of such external diameter that it may be readily grasped in the hands. It may be provided with tips such as indicated at 11, and with a central cylindric cushion 13 of rubber or cork, for example, held in place by collars 15 suitably secured to the bar.

Patented Jan. 14, 1964 As shown, a pair of cords each designated 17 extends up from the base at opposite sides of the base, the upper end portions of these cords being wound around bar 9 adjacent opposite ends of the bar. The upper ends of the cords may be secured to the bar in any suitable way. For example, the ends of the cords may extend through holes 19 in the bar and be knotted as at 21 to prevent them from being pulled out of the holes (see FIG. 3). It is essential that cords 17 be substantially inextensible, as distinguished from extensible elastic cords. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, cords 17 are portions of a single length of cord (a one-quarter inch five hundred pound test polyethylene cord, for example) extending underneath base 1 and upward through the holes 7 in the base. The portions of this single length of cord extending underneath the base may be knotted as indicated at 23 (see FIG. 2) to limit slippage of the cord through the holes.

Bar 9 is provided with a pair of handles 25 extending laterally outward therefrom adjacent the ends of the bar. Cords 17 are Wound around the bar inward of the handles. Handles 25 may simply consist of rods threaded in tapped holes 27 in the bar.

FIGS. 4-8 illustrate various modes of use of the abovedescribed apparatus for carrying out exercises according to the isometric contraction system. FIG. 4 shows the user standing on the base 1 between the cords 17, grasping bar 9 in his hands, and pushing up on the bar with the latter above his head. FIG. 5 shows a similar exercise, but with the bar in front of the users face. FIG. 6 shows the user in a knees-bent position pulling up on the bar. Adjustment for carrying out these various exercises is accomplished simply by winding up cords 17 on the bar, or unwinding the cords from the bar, as required. As to any given position of the bar, unwinding of the cords from the bar is prevented by reason of the users grip on the bar, necessitating a firm grip on the bar, which may augment the desired muscle contraction resulting from pushing or pulling on the bar.

FIG. 7 shows the user standing almost erect on the base between the cords, grasping bar 9 by handles 25 with the cushion 13 of the bar engaging the nape of his neck, and pushing up on the bar with his body. FIG. 8 shows a similar exercise but in a knees-bent position. In exercises of this type, handles 25 enable a firm grasp to be taken to prevent unwinding of cords 17, such as would be difiicult to take by direct grip on the bar with the latter extending across the nape of the neck.

It will be readily understood that cords 17 may be secured to the base in ways other than as shown. For example, they may be separate lengths of cord, extending through holes 7, and knotted at their lower ends below the base to keep them from pulling through the holes.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising apparatus for carrying out exercises of the isometric contraction type comprising a relatively flat base adapted to rest on the floor and on which the user may take a variety of positions for exercising a bar, and a pair of substantially inextensible cords extending from the base at opposite sides of the base, said cords being secured at their lower ends to the base and spaced apart a sufiicient distance on the base for the body of a user to fit therebetween and for the user to take a variety of positions between the cords, upper end portions of said .3 cords being wound around said bar adjacent opposite ends of said bar, said bar being rotatable to wind or unwind said cords thereby to change the length'of the portions of the cords extending from the base to the bar.

2. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bar has a pair of handles extending outward there from adjacent the ends of the bar.

3. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the cords are wound around the bar inward of the handles.

4. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base has feet for supporting it above the fioor, and a pair of holes at opposite sides thereof, wherein said cords are portions of a single length of cord extending underneath said base and upward through said holes.

5. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the portion of said cord extending underneath 4 said base is knotted to limit slippage of said cord through said holes. t

6. An exercising apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bar has a pair of handles extending outward therefrom adjacent the ends of the bar, and a central cylindric cushion on the bar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 140,237 Austin June 24, 1873 1,372,026 Hutter Mar. 22, 1921 1,605,792 Simmons Nov. 2, 1926 3,068,001 Portman Dec. 11, 1962 3,068,002 Balne Dec. 11, 1962 3,068,003 Portman et a1. Dec. 11, 1962 

1. AN EXERCISING APPARATUS FOR CARRYING OUT EXERCISES OF THE ISOMETRIC CONTRACTION TYPE COMPRISING A RELATIVELY FLAT BASE ADAPTED TO REST ON THE FLOOR AND ON WHICH THE USER MAY TAKE A VARIETY OF POSITIONS FOR EXERCISING A BAR, AND A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY INEXTENSIBLE CORDS EXTENDING FROM THE BASE AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BASE, SAID CORDS BEING SECURED AT THEIR LOWER ENDS TO THE BASE AND SPACED APART A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE ON THE BASE FOR THE BODY OF A USER TO FIT THEREBETWEEN AND FOR THE USER TO TAKE A VARIETY OF POSITIONS BETWEEN THE CORDS, UPPER END PORTIONS OF SAID CORDS BEING WOUND AROUND SAID BAR ADJACENT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BAR, SAID BAR BEING ROTATABLE TO WIND OR UNWIND SAID CORDS THEREBY TO CHANGE THE LENGTH OF THE PORTIONS OF THE CORDS EXTENDING FROM THE BASE TO THE BAR. 